Process for printing and decorating fabrics



' Sept. 1, 1942. z

PROCESS FOR PRINTING AND DECORATING FABRICS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 18, 1940 INVENTOR. ROBERT STUTZ I was 4% ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 1, 1942. R. STUTZ PROCESS FOR PRINTING AND DECORATING FABRICS Filed June 18, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 .m; 24 A TTORNEYS Sept. 1, 1942. R. STUTZ PROCESS FOR PRINTING AND DECORATING FABRICS v 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 18, 1940 INVENT OR. I ROBERT STU TZ BY 12 ATTORNEYS.

Sept. '1, 1942'. v R, STUTZ 2,294,429

PROCESS FOR PRINTING AND DECORATING FABRICS Filed June 18, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet v4 WIIIIIIIIIIIIII/lllII/IIIA INVENTOR. ROB/5R T S TU 72 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 1, 1942 PROCESS FOR PRINTING AND DECORATING FABRICS Robert Stutz, Arlington, N. J assignor to S. '1. 8r

S. Holding Co. Inc., New York, N. 1., a corporation of New York I Application June 18, 1940, Serial No, 341,103

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to a method and means for decorating textile fabrics and particularly relates to a method and means of decorating textilefabrics upon which or to which are to be applied multi-colored designs.

It is among the particular objects of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus of the character described which will apply to fabrics multl-colored designs with assurance that said designs will not tend to run into each other or become smeared, with a high speed of production.

Another object is to provide an improved method and means of printing textile fabrics or other fabrics in sheet form which will involve relatively few parts and which will be simple and convenient to manufacture. Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved printing plate construction which may be utilized for decorating fabrics and obtaining multi-colored prints of various designs on fabrics and particularly on woven textile fabrics.

Still further objects and advantages will appear from the more detailed description set forth below, it being understood, however, that this more" detailed description is given by way of illustration since various changes therein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

In accomplishing the above objects, it has been found most satisfactory to cause the fabrics in being printed or decorated to'be carried upon a roller or carrier face which will apply the necessary decorating or printing material thereto.

In the preferred form of the invention, means are provided to hold the fabric closely in contact with said roller, a carrier or presser belt being utilized in one form of the, invention, which belt, at the same time, is pressed downwardly, pressing the fabric downwardly upon the imprinting surface by an adjustable weighting means.

If desired, the fabric may be conveniently moistened before being carried upon the imprinting rollers, and after being imprinted, the fabric may be conveniently wound upon a roller or placed upon a flat rollingmeans with or without interspacing or separating materials.

In forming the printing plate or printing cylinder, it has been found most satisfactory to form a doughy mass consisting of a water soluble material, with which may be combined the coloring composition either in the form of a pigment or dye, a hygroscopic agent and a dispersing or emulsifying agent.

The materialshou ld be of such a nature as will dry out in air to a relatively hard coherent, nonbrittle, non-friable, although plastic mass, yet which when moistened will become sufficiently plastic that a top surface of it may be picked up by a fabric pressed in contact with it.

At the same time, the printing mass which may be placed upon a plate or cylinder, should retain its body and structure without tending to crack or become detached from the base, when dried or when moistened preparatory to printing or when actually used in printing.

Among the water soluble materials which may be employed are gelatine, pectin, gum arable, gum tragacanth, British gum, dextrine, gum shiraz, locust bean gum, agar agar, glue and other types of water soluble or water absorbent mucilages, gums or colloids.

The proportion of colloids to water should always be such that there will be a heavy doughy mass which may be readily kneaded and stretched without breaking and having the plasticity and texture substantially that of a; wellaged bread dough. 1

Depending upon the particular colloid, gum or mucilage, it is desired to employ, it has been found that from 50 to of the colloid will sufllciently body the water to form the desired mixture. 7

As a general rule, it has been found most satisfactory to use colloids, gums, or mucilages other than starch which may be readily'convertedintoa doughy or plastic mass with starch.

To preserve the material, it has been found most satisfactory to add small amounts of hydroxylated benzenes or naphthalenes, such as phenols, or hydroxy napthenes or carboxylic acids such as benzoic acid or even inorganic acid such as boric acid, the amounts of these agents varying from about to 2%.

To regulate the water absorptive qualities of the mixture, it is also possible to include small amounts, say from 1 to 10% of poly-hydroxyalcohols, such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol, sorbitol, mannitol, cellosolve, carbitol, or less preferably, sugar.

It is also possible to include various combinations including alkanol amines such as mono, di and triethanolamines, diamino propanol, isobutanoi, which may also be converted into dispersing or surface active agents by combination with fatty acids such as stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, cocoanut oil fatty acids, eruric acid, elaidic acid, riclnoleic acid, eleostearic acid,

palmitic acid or iauric acid with or without heating and pressure.

As dispersing or surface active agents, it is also possible include various amido. amino, boric, phospho, or sulpho derivatives of aliphatic compounds having from 12 to 26 carbon atoms, such for example, as sodium lauryl sulphate or sulphonate, stearic triethylene amide, the ethyl ester of sulphonated oleyl alcohol, phosphates and borates of lauryl and myricyl alcohol, and so forth.

These surface active, agents are generally utilized in amounts varying from 1 to The pigment or dye which is utilized, dependin upon the type of fabric which is to be printed or decorated, may be widely varied.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate one of. the various possible embodiments of the present invention, but to which the present invention is by no means restricted since the drawings are merely by way of illustration and not by way of limitation,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are respectively detailed side sectional views of the imprinting roller and the wind-up roller.

Figure 4 illustrates an alternative mechanism for printing the fabric in diagrammatic side sectional View.

Figures 5 to 13 illustrate one method of forming a printing plate, each of the figures being a.

perspective view illustrating successive steps in combining the doughy or plastic mass together has the trunnions I! which are carried by the bearing structure I9, said bearing structure It being mounted on the cross-bar l2.

The fabric 13 then passes under the stretching roller or cylinder 20 carried by the structure 2|. Th structure 2| is mounted on the vertical frame member 22. The fabric B then passes over the main roller D. This roller D, as is better shown in Figure 2, has the central pivot element 33, the structural center 24, and the imprinting face 25 which may be, if desired, of a soluble material which will gradually be dissolved oif on the fab ric B.

Pressing the fabric B against the imprinting face is the belt or fabric covered element F cated in Figure 2.

Pressing the fabric B-and the belt F against the portion 25 of the roller D are the rollers 29,

and II and 32 which are held by the frame to form the final printing plate, Figures 5 and 6 illustrating the formation of the base element; Figures 7 to 11 illustrating the treatment of this base element to form the composite design elements; Figure 12 illustrating a series of the elements prior to application to a circular printing roller and Figure 13 being a perspective view of the elements as applied to a circular printing roller.

Figures 14 to 16 illustrate still another embodiment in which the printing element consists of a felt or rubber cover, portions of which have been cut out to receive the coloring masses; Figure 14 being a side elevational view and Figures 15 and 16 being sectional views upon the line i5-l5 of Figure 14 upon enlarged scale as compared to Figure 14 illustrating the construction of the cylinder before and after the application of the covering mass.

Figures 17 to 19 illustrate another alternative procedure for forming the printing cylinder, Figures 1'7 and 19 being side elevational views of ends of the roller, respectively, before and after the design has been placed therein and after certain portions have been cut out, and Figures 18 and 20 being respectively side sectional views upon the lines l8--|8 and 2ll20 of Figures 17 and 19. s u

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the frame of the machine A is'provided with the vertical members l0, and the cross members I I, I2 and I3- The fabric B to be imprinted, is carried before,

carried by the bearing structure I! on the crossbar ll. The fabric moves in the direction of the arrow l6, over the guide roller H. The guide roller I1 work G consisting of the upstanding members 32 and the cross-bar 34.

These rollers 29 to 3| are of predetermined weight so as properly to press the fabrics F and B against the face 25 of the roller D.

After passing over the roller D, the belt F is passed onto the roller H which has the bearing structure 35 in which trunnions 36 of the roller are carried.

The imprinted fabric B is then passed onto the take-up device E which, as is best shown in Figure 3, has the side members 31, the end bars 38 upon which the fabric is wound, and the pivotal center member 39. i

The device E rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow 40 in Figure 3.

From the roller 4| having the bearing 42 carryingthe trunnions 43, is drawn the spacer or paper 44 which is spaced between the imprinted fabric F as it is wound upon the bars The roller H is driven by the pulley 41 by the belt 45 from the pulley 48. The pulley 4B is driven from the gear box 48. The gear box 48 is driven from the pulleys '49 and 50 through the belt 5|. The motor 52 drives the pulley 50. The motor 52 is mounted at 53 upon the floor 54. The wrapping up device E is driven from the pulley 55 through the cross belt 56 which is driven from the pulley 41.

It will be noted that both .;thefabric B and belt F are pulled through themachine by the rollers H and the wrapping up devic E.

Where it is desired to moisten t e fabric or to feed a moistening sheet against the fabric at the side thereof away from the side which contacts the roller D, the sheet B, may be fed by the rollers 51 through the box 58 where it is suitably moistened or picks up a solvent which will moisten and dissolve the surface of the material 25, as shown in Figure 2.

After passage through the box 58, the material will pass through the rollers 59 and over the rollers II.

To lift part or all of the presure rollers 29 to II, and thus regulate the pressure in the main printing roller D, the lever apparatus I is provided having a pivot mount at 6! on the upstand ing bar 6| extending upwardly from the frame member ll. v

The left end 62 of the bar would lift the end of may be actuated at the rollers which project beyond the gauge G and 62 is connected at the 66. The openings 61 enable adjustment in the positioning of the lever 65 and the bars 62, 63.

In operation, the fabric will pass in the direction I6 from the roller C to the roller E and the belt F will move in the same direction.

The pressure rollers 29 to 32 will turn in contact with the belt F as it passes over the roller The belt F and the fabric 13 again will separate to be taken up separately on the devices H and E.

In the alternative construction shown in Figure 4, there is a frame work 14 having the upright members 15 and 16, and the cross members 11,- 18 and 19 which may consist of channel irons.

The upright members 15 and 16 carry the hook members 80, 8| and 82, the hook 80 serving as a bearing for the feed roller 8I carrying the silk or fabric 86 to be imprinted and the hook member 82 carrying the shaft 83 for the roller 84 carrying the contact sheet or pressure sheet 85.

The cross members 16 also carries the bearing 81 for the temple member 88 which stretches out the fabric to be imprinted. Both the fabric 86 to be imprinted and the covering cloth 85 come together at the printing roller 89, the shaft 90 of which has a bearing 9I on the upper cross member 19.

The vertical member 14 has an extension 92 carrying the pivot 93 for the bar 94. From the upper end of the extension 92 extends the cross bar 95 having the two dependent members 96 forming a slot 91 in which fit the trunnions or shafts 98 of the pressure rollers 99.

The lower trunnion 98 is positioned above the extension I of the arm 94. The lower pressure roller 99 presses down upon the printing roller 89 pressing the silk sheet 86 against the printing roller 89 through the intermediate sheet.

The other end IOI of the arm 94 is connected I to the rope or chain I02 passing over the pulleys I03, I04 and I05 to the handle I06 which may be drawn downwardly to lift the pressure of the rollers 99 to the printing roller 89. The pulley I03 is mounted on the roof II6 of the chamber II1 having an inlet opening H8 and an outlet opening II9 for the fabric.

The pulleys I04, I05 are suspended from the ceiling I01 as is also the cage I08. The floor I09 of the cage I08 receives the motor I I0 and the gear box III. The gear box III has a wheel II2 driving the chain II3 which in turn drives the gears I I4 and H5 and the take up roll I23 for the backing fabric 85.

The roll I23 has a shaft I carried in the bearing I2I, which is mounted upon the extension I22 of the top bar or frame member 19.

The silk 86 after being printed passes through the opening H8 in thedrying chamber II1 over .the rollers I24, I25 having the shafts I94, I95

and out through the outlet II9 on to the rollers I26, I21 and finally over the driven roller I28.

The gear II5 drives a pulley carrying the belt or chain I90 which drives thepulley I9I having the bearing I92 in the standard I93.

From the roller I28 the printed fabric I29 drops into the box I30, where the goods having been imprinted folds itself up, as indicated at I3I, and is ready to be boiled of! or otherwise finished.

In the drying chamber II1 there is positioned the handle member 65 whicha motor m for driving the fan :33, sending out the blast of hot air I34. The fan is provided with .a radiator, not shown, supplied with a heating fluid through the pipe I35.

' Both the fabrics 85 and 86 may be moistened before imprinting and preferably the moisture of the printing roller 89 should be increased by water sprays or by steaming, so that imprinting will readily take place.

If desired, a cage apparatus, such as indicated at 33 and an adjustable device, such as indicated at 65 in Figure 1, might also be used in connection with the construction of Figure 4.

It is thus apparent the applicant has provided a simple, inexpensive apparatus for the improvement of fabrics which may be widely applied whether or not the fabric is moistened and which is subject to wide utilization.

In forming the printing roller, the plastic material, together with the coloring matter may be prepared in a series of kneadable doughs having different color values.

As shown in Figure 5, there is a round or'cylindrical mass I50 formed of one color, red or blue, which is laid upon a contrasting colored sheet I5I which may be white.

Then, the sheet I5I is wrapped around the cylindrical mass I50, as indicated in Figure 6, with the ends of the sheet meeting at I52. The mass, as shown in Figure 6 is then stretched out into a thinner mass, as indicated at I53 (Figure 7) by the hands I54 and then the drawn out mass isscut by the hot knife I55 to form thesegments I 6.

The segments. I56 are then laid together, as indicated in Figure 9, together with the triangular or prismatic spacer elements or blanks or negatives I51, which fill the interstices between the cylindricalmasses I56.

Then, the mass at Figure 9 is drawn out to form a series of masses I58 which again are then laid together six at a time, as indicated at Figure 11, together with the intermediatespacers or filler members I59. The mass of 'Figure 11 is then drawn out and is finally out up to form the-segments I60 which may then be placed in position, as indicated in Figure 13, upon the face I6I of the printing roller having the shaft I62.

The method of making the plate, as set forth in Figures 5 to 13, is, of course, illustrative and many changes could be made in this method to give widely varying different designs or constructions as the case may be.

' In respect to Figures 14 to 16, the basic printing roller I is covered with felt I66 which has cut .out portions I61. These cut-out portions then may be filled with specimens of the doughy mass I68, as shown in Figure 16.

By making the felt I66 of suitable waterproof material which is compressible so as to permit contact even though the mass 168 be dissolved or largely used up, it is possible to obtain a series of designs from the mass I68 without interference of the felt I66.

In the arrangement shown .in Figures 17 and 18, the roller I10 is providedwith a rubber cover I1I upon which is placed a lacquer or varnish forming a pattern I12.

This varnish is preferably oiled or waxed so that none of the imp inting material will flow thereon and if desired, a doctor plate, not shown, may be used thereon.

Then, the unpainted or unvarnished portions may be cut out, as indicated at m m Figure 19,

.The rubber should have suiiicient pliability so that as the printing mass H4 is consumed them will be satisfactory contact between the printing mass and the fabric being imprinted.

Although the printing roller is preferably used for textiles, it may also be used for printing other flexible sheet materials.

It is apparent the specific illustrations shown above have been given by way of illustration and not by way of limitation and that the structures above described are subject to wide variation and modification without departing from the scope or intent of the invention all of which variations and, modifications areto be included within the scope of the present invention.

"The word "body" as used in the specification is meant ajwater soluble gum or gelatinous material which has the property of taking of water and forming a paste, jelly or gummy mass. and thus decrease the liquidity and increase the viscosity of the mixture.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of making printing plates and rollers comprising forming water soluble doughy masses of different colors, stretching them into cylinders, cutting up the cylinders, laying them together, repeating the stretching, cutting and laying operations and then placing the segments on a base.

2. The method of making printing plates and rollers comprising forming water soluble doughy masses of different colors, stretching them into cylinders, cutting up the cylinders, laying them together, repeating the stretching, cutting and laying operations and then placing the segments on a base, said mass comprising water soluble materials.

3. The method of making printing plates and rollers comprising forming water soluble doughy masses or different colors, stretching them into cylinders, cutting up the cylinders, laying them together, repeating the stretching, cutting and laying operations and then placing the segments on a base, said mass comprising water soluble materials and emulsifying agents.

4. The method 01' making printing plates and rollers comprising forming water soluble doughy masses of different colors, stretching them into cylinders, cutting up the cylinders, laying them together, repeating the stretching, cuttin and laying operations and then placing the segments on a base, said-mass comprising water soluble materials and hygroscopic agents.

5. The method of making printing plates and rollers comprising forming water soluble doughy masses of diilerent colors, stretching them into cylinders, cutting up the cylinders, lay ng them together, repeating the stretching, cutting and laying operations and then placing the segments on a base, said mass containing a combination of dextrin and water.

6. A method of making a printing plate which prises forming a stretchable dough of a coloring material, a water absorbent material, a hygroscopic agent and a dispersing agent and forming colored designs therefrom.

ROBERT STUTZ. 

